Cursing banned on Manitoba soccer pitches

Well I'll be $*vx ed! It seems a rather severe first time penalty. I just wonder if the severity will cause many referees to ignore any but insistent cursing! There may also be a problem with inconsistent application. You will have pro and anti-cursing referees perhaps. Why can't they have a card system in which you get a warning card first? What about fans? They are the worst offenders I should think.

Cursing banned on Manitoba soccer pitches
Last Updated: Wednesday, August 1, 2007 | 10:26 AM CT
CBC News
That failed attempt at a goal might irk you, but you'd better keep the cursing under your breath: the Manitoba Soccer Association now has a zero-tolerance policy for foul language on the pitch.

Any player or coach heard swearing by the referee will be kicked out of the game under the new policy, which went into effect Wednesday.

The new policy, which applies to all soccer games sanctioned by the MSA, is necessary to improve the game's image, officials said.

"If you hear it, you've got to be dealing with it," said association director Hector Vergara.

Referee Larry Elroy said bad language makes many games unpleasant, especially in adult leagues.

"You can't go a minute without hearing it," said Elroy, chair of the MSA's referee development committee.



"Certainly if something goes wrong on the field, they're just lambasting whoever it is, whether it's a teammate, or an opponent or the referee, with the foul language."

But some players said cursing is a natural outlet for players' frustrations.

"If you watch a game, there are so many people swearing and so many swears that are said during the game — not directed at anyone in particular, but if you mess up, you're just going to swear at yourself," said Fernando Gonzalez, a player on an MSA team.

"It's not going to work because players get frustrated and just let loose," agreed fellow player Bobby Brar. "It's just part of the game."